Facebook, founded in 2004, is one of the most popular free virtual communities on the internet, with about 2.8 billion monthly users as of December 2020. As Facebook continues to grow, it is also becoming a platform where users are overwhelmed by information, confrontational posts, and cyberbullying. Numerous people have lost precious time and have even ended up with psychological stress because of Facebook. If you’re one of these individuals who wish to take a break from Facebook, you may have wondered if deleting your account is the only choice available. However, deactivating your account is a useful alternative. It enables users to remove their account’s visibility completely, protecting their privacy while keeping their account secure for reuse in the future. In this tutorial, we will walk you through the steps to deactivate a Facebook account.
Video Tutorial:
What’s Needed
Before you begin deactivating your Facebook account, ensure that you have an internet connection and a Facebook account. You’ll also need access to the internet and the correct login credentials for your account.
What Should I Pay Attention to?
As you deactivate your Facebook account, please keep these considerations in mind:
– Many Facebook-connected applications won’t operate if your account is deactivated.
– If you’re an admin for a Facebook page or group, you’ll need to relinquish your role or select another admin before deactivating.
– You won’t be able to use Facebook Messenger to chat with your friends.
– Your Facebook profile is still visible to others on Facebook.
– Clear your browser cache and history if you want your profile to vanish right away.
Methods
Method 1: Deactivate Your Account from Facebook Desktop
Before we proceed with the steps, please note that deactivating your Facebook account from a desktop or laptop using a Windows, Mac, or Linux operating system is essentially the original method. Let’s get started.
1. First, open your preferred web browser and navigate to Facebook.com.
2. Sign in to your Facebook account with your username and password.
3. Once signed in, click the drop-down arrow situated in the upper-right corner of the page, then press Settings & Privacy > Settings.
4. On the left menu, select Your Facebook Information, then click Deactivation and Deletion.
5. Choose the Deactivate Account option, and then click Continue to Account Deactivation.
6. Facebook will display the following information: "Are you certain you want to deactivate your account?" Select a reason from the menu, or you may write your explanation inside the specified box optional, and then tap Deactivate.
7. Facebook will ask you to enter your password once more for verification. Type it in and press Deactivate Now.
8. Facebook will then deactivate your account.
Pros
– You can reactivate your account whenever you’re ready to go back to Facebook.
– No one can access your account while it’s deactivated.
Cons
– Many Facebook-connected apps will not function when your account is deactivated.
Method 2: Deactivate Your Account with Facebook Mobile App
Do you prefer utilizing Facebook through your mobile device? Then, use the Facebook mobile app to deactivate your account. Here’s how.
1. Open the Facebook app on your mobile device.
2. Log in to your account with your username and password.
3. After logging in, tap on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner of the page.
4. Navigate to Settings & Privacy > Settings > Account Ownership and Control > Deactivation and Deletion.
5. Choose the Deactivate Account option and choose the continue
6. Facebook will display the following information: "Are you certain you want to deactivate your account?" Select a reason from the menu, or you may write your explanation inside the specified box (optional), and then tap Deactivate.
7. Facebook will then ask you to enter your password once more for verification. Type it in and press Deactivate Now.
8. Your account has now been deactivated.
Pros
– Conveniently deactivate your Facebook account on the go.
Cons
– Only works if you have the Facebook mobile software installed on your device.
– Many Facebook aconnected apps will not operate when your account is disabled.
Method 3: Deactivate Your Account Permanently From Facebook Desktop
As previously said, Facebook allows users to deactivate their accounts temporarily to protect their privacy. If you want permanently to remove your account, though, this is the method to follow.
Before we proceed with the steps, make sure you update all of your account’s data before deleting it. Take some screenshots or preserve select data to ensure that all of your valuable information is backed up. Let’s get started.
1. Sign into Facebook using your account credentials after starting your preferred web browser on your computer.
2. Once you’re logged in, go to: https://www.facebook.com/help/delete_account in your browser, and click "Delete Account."
3. "Permanently Delete Account" is the next page, and it will provide a warning that implies that account deletion is irreversible. If you are sure, type your password and the characters in the image to confirm your decision.
4. Press "OK" after clicking ‘Continue.’
5. You have successfully deleted your Facebook account permanently.
Pros
– It permanently erases all of your data, including images and personal information.
Cons
– You can’t get your Facebook account back once it’s been deleted.
Why Can’t I Delete My Account?
Many people struggle with deleting their Facebook accounts because their reason to delete is not valid. Here are a few reasons why you might be encountering challenges when attempting to deactivate your Facebook account:
1. For 30 days following a logout, Facebook stores your account. You have 30 days after logging out to reactivate your account. You cannot delete any information from your Facebook profile during this time.
Fix: Wait for the 30-day time to be over, and then attempt to deactivate your account.
2. If you are the sole administrator for a Facebook organization, team, or page, you are not allowed to delete your account. You must first designate someone else as the new administrator before proceeding with your account deletion.
Fix: Before deactivating your account, change the admin person for Facebook organization or page to someone else.
3. Your account could be prohibited for violation of terms of service. If Facebook deactivates your account but does not offer a reason why, your account may have violated Facebook’s terms of service, giving Facebook sufficient cause to remove your account altogether.
Fix: Request more information from Facebook Help, or you can try creating a new Facebook account.
Suggestions
When deactivating your Facebook account, keep in mind the following:
1. Ensure you have unlinked your Facebook account from all outside websites and services.
2. If you have any Facebook-associated products, like photographs or documents, download or move them to another location.
3. Ensure that no one has any active sessions with your account while you deactivate it.
4. Deactivating your Facebook account has no effect on other social media accounts. If you’d want to stop using other forms of social media, you’ll have to deactivate them separately.
5 FAQs
Q1. Will my Facebook account be permanently deleted when I deactivate it?
A1. No, when you deactivate your Facebook account, it is temporarily disabled. When you want to reactivate it, use the same email and password to log back into Facebook.
Q2. Will my Facebook messages be deleted when I deactivate my Facebook account?
A2. You will retain all of your Messenger connections and messages once your Facebook profile has been removed.
Q3. Can people still send me friend requests if I deactivate my Facebook account?
A3. During the deactivation phase, you will be unable to receive friend requests.
Q4. Can people see my profile when I deactivate it?
A4. Your Facebook profile will be undetectable until you activate it. People cannot search for it, and information and posts will no longer be accessible.
Q5. Will Facebook still know my activity if I deactivate my Facebook account?
A5. Facebook will no longer be able to get any knowledge or data from you once you deactivate your account. Any previous data shared with Facebook and third-party websites will, however, be retained.
Conclusion
By now, you should have an idea about how to deactivate your Facebook account without deleting anything permanently. It’s a straightforward and useful feature to safeguard your privacy or relieve yourself of Facebook distractions. Of course, before you deactivate your account, you’ll need to evaluate your reasons for doing so. Remember, it is not safe to use, particularly in today’s world, and using it continually may have severe consequences, such as spending hours scrolling through your phone without even realizing it. Take a break from Facebook and clear your thoughts.